Fulham boss Marco Silva insists his side are preparing to stop Erling Haaland this weekend when they face Manchester City - despite the fact the striker is a major injury doubt for the game.
Haaland has missed City's last two games with a bruised ligament in his foot, picked up in the first half of the Champions League draw at Borussia Dortmund. In his place, Julian Alvarez has started three games in a row, but Silva insists that Fulham are expecting Haaland to start against them instead.
Pep Guardiola said on Tuesday that Haaland would miss the Champions League dead-rubber against Sevilla in order to prioritise a return for Fulham, and he didn't train that day. He watched the 3-1 win over Sevilla from the stands at the Etihad.
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Previewing the game, Silva said: "[He is] a top, top striker. You know the impact that he made in the squad and in the Premier League as well, we know they are really, really tough when they play at home.
"Of course, Haaland is a key player for them. Let's see, [questions about Haaland] is more for Pep and for them, but we are preparing for the game thinking that he will play and we will have to wait for some time before the kick-off to know."
Guardiola will give a fresh update on Haaland's condition on Friday, and will also likely be asked about City's plans to combat Fulham's in-form striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has nine goals already this season.
Silva was also asked about Mitrovic, particularly to compare him to Haaland, but the Portuguese manager had no time for such comparisons.
"It is unfair for me to compare," Silva said. "You know that I am delighted to have Mitrovic with us and I'm sure that Pep is delighted to have Haaland with them as well. All the other things we cannot compare, they are different profiles as strikers. I am delighted to have Mitro with us."
Silva said he will look to last season's FA Cup clash between the sides, when they were still in the Championship but took a shock four minute lead against City before falling to defeat.
"The game will be probably one of the most difficult ones at this level, in my opinion, against the best team in this competition, probably one of the best in the world as well," Silva said.
"Top, top quality all over the pitch, with a philosophy that is really difficult to play against, with one of the best, if not the best, manager in the world as well.
"It means that the target and the challenge is really tough for us, but we have to embrace it. We had a good example last season when we played against them in the FA Cup. Our first half was really, really good, and if we could repeat that first half I will be delighted because the way we played was really impressive, impressive for me as a manager, and we will try to replicate the same thing again.
"When we have the ball, we have to express ourselves, we have to attack them. If you don't attack them, if you don't try to score, your chances to get a good result will be really low. They are aware of our quality for sure, I know that, but we have to try to attack them.
"They are the most difficult one to play against, in my opinion. They have the quality, but for sure some teams can compete and can beat them, and let’s hope we can. It will be really difficult for us, but it’s our obligation to try."
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